Fixed-line internet restored in Bhaderwah

Bhaderwah Bazaar open during 12-hours curfew relaxation on Sunday. — Excelsior/Tilak Raj
Bhaderwah Bazaar open during 12-hours curfew relaxation on Sunday. — Excelsior/Tilak Raj

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: The fixed-line internet services were today restored in Bhaderwah town of Doda district after remaining suspended for the past 10 days following communal tension in the area.
Curfew was also relaxed in the town for 12 hours from 7 am for the second consecutive day as the overall situation remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere during the past 24 hours.
After reviewing the prevailing law and order situation, the district administration directed for restoration of the broadband internet services from 11 am, officials said, adding that the decision to resume mobile internet services will be taken shortly.
Curfew was imposed in Bhaderwah town on June 9 following communal tension in the wake of inflammatory speech from a religious place and Social Media posts over remarks of now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
The curfew was relaxed, for the first time, in the town for two hours on June 15, five hours in two phases on June 16, four hours on June 17 and 12 hours on June 18 and the relaxation period passed off peacefully.
Police along with security forces are deployed in strength in the town to maintain peace, officials said.
Meanwhile, the administration has issued an advisory, warning internet users of stringent action in accordance with relevant sections of law for sharing “objectionable material” on Social Media.
“It is for the information of the general public that circulating offensive messages through a communication device or an online mode of a menacing character, or a message that the sender knows to be false… Is a punishable offence under law,” the advisory read.
It said few such mischievous acts by some miscreants have been viewed very seriously by the administration and due action has been initiated against them.
“It is as such advised to all the internet/social media users not to create upload any hate speech audios, videos, posts, remarks etc which hurt, or are likely to hurt the sentiments of any section of the society, and are unlawful otherwise,” the advisory said, asking people to inform the administration immediately regarding the first hand creator or uploader of such content.